Despite the growing awareness of mental health, marginalized communities continue to face significant barriers in accessing adequate mental health care. Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suffer from severe shortages of mental health professionals, with some regions having as few as one psychiatrist per 500,000 people. 

Research consistently shows that Indigenous populations, displaced persons, LGBTQI+ individuals, marginalized ethnic and religious groups, women, young people with disabilities and those in lower socio-economic brackets experience higher rates of mental illness but lower treatment utilization compared to the wealthiest populations in both high-income countries (HICs) and LMICs. In some cases, the mental health care gap exceeds 75% in LMICs, leaving millions without access to necessary treatment. 

Without targeted interventions and increased investment in accessible, inclusive, and culturally appropriate mental health services, these disparities will continue to grow, deepening existing inequalities.

Furthermore, a gendered-lens must be applied in conversations and efforts targeting global mental health. Women are more likely than men to experience common mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, with women living in LMICs especially vulnerable. A study using data from 122 countries found that higher rates of gender inequality were significantly correlated with gender disparities in depressive disorders, suggesting that women’s mental health is strongly impacted by societal inequalities. On the other hand, data shows that men are reporting higher rates of loneliness and isolation than ever before.

We recommend the global community and UN member states to:

• Incorporate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to children and young people through educational institutions; this shall extend to marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as but not limited to Migrant Learning Centres and refugee camps.
• Invest in Telehealth and mobile Mental Health Services to reach rural and underrepresented communities and foster community engagement and peer support networks.
• Develop Member State’s National Mental Health Action Plans which should also ensure inclusivity and diversity of practices from the decision-making processes in order to adequately address the broad-ranging mental health requirements from different communities.
• Support research on the relationship between digital engagement and mental health, disaggregated by gender, race, disability, and other key identity markers, to inform better policies and platform design.
• Scale up international cooperation and targeted investment in mental health infrastructure in LMICs, ensuring access to affordable, community-led, and culturally appropriate services for young people and marginalized populations.